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The government have released new guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.
Prof Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, said:
“The UK government have recognised the need for extra protection to the most vulnerable during the second COVID-19 wave in the UK.
“This recognition is welcome but we have to ask why the need to protect the vulnerable has not been at the forefront of the response over the past few weeks.
“We now know that 75% of COVID-19-related deaths occur in an identifiable 5% of the population. This 5% are at hugely increased risk, and that risk has grown substantially as cases have risen over recent weeks.
“The announcement today is welcome but feels like an afterthought; it should have been made weeks ago as soon as cases started to rise.
“Vulnerable people will need support to protect themselves, not just advice. A priority should be easy access to regular testing for their close contacts, carers and family members. We could do much more to help reduce the death toll during this second wave. There is still time. Most of those who will die during the second wave have not yet been infected.”
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